No more N-word?

Black leaders: End N-word in entertainmentStory Highlights•NEW: Black leaders want to stop use of "n-word"•Jesse Jackson: "We want to give our ancestors a present"•Michael Richards on Jackson's radio show: "Shattered" by rant

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Black leaders challenged the entertainment industry, including rap artists, actors and major studios, to stop the use of the racial slur that triggered the scandal involving "Seinfeld" comic actor Michael Richards.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights leader, and others said Monday they will meet with TV networks, film companies and musicians to discuss banning the racial slur that is a derogatory term for blacks. They also sought an effort by the public to stop using the term.

"We want to give our ancestors a present," Jackson said at a news conference. "Dignity over degradation."

Jackson also asked the public not to buy a DVD box set of the seventh season of the TV show "Seinfeld" that was released last week.

Richards, who played the wacky neighbor Kramer on "Seinfeld," triggered outrage with a November 17 racial rant against two black men when he was heckled during a stand-up comedy routine at the Laugh Factory nightclub in West Hollywood. A patron recorded the outburst with a video camera phone.

Richards has made several apologies, including one Sunday on Jackson's syndicated radio program, in which he has said he is not a racist and was motivated by anger. (Watch Richards on the radio showVideo)

At the press conference, comedian Paul Mooney said he has used the "n-word" numerous times during stand-up performances but will no longer do so after watching Richards' rant.

Asked about free-speech issues, Jackson said the word is "unprotected."

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, charged that only situations such as the Richards incident turn mainstream media attention to issues involving the black community.

"This is not simply about whether or not the black community forgives or forgets, this is about understanding that this is pervasive, that this happens in all of our institutions, one way or the other," Waters said.

Laugh Factory owner Jaime Masada extended an invitation to Richards to perform on December 4 at the club to apologize to the guests who attended the November 17 performance.

"He has no intention of going back there and performing right now," Richards' publicist Howard Rubenstein said.

Masada suggested Richards donate at least $500,000 (euro381,270) to charity for every time he unleashed the derogatory term. Masada also said the comedy club will ban comedians from using all "hateful words" including the "n-word."

"We want to be the first place in the world to ask all of the comedians if they go on stage and use the 'n-word,' (it) comes out of their paycheck," Masada said.

The N-word should not be used by anyone in my opinion. The only acceptable use for the N-word that I can think of is in studying the history of the word.

The problem is the word is racially charged. When white people say it, it's racist. When black rappers say it, it excludes white people who want to emulate those rappers.

If black people try to own the word and make it their own...they might rob it of some of its power. However, as long as white people aren't allowed to use it while black people still use it, it acts as a barrier between white and black people.

Honestly, I would prefer if everyone in the world stopped using the word forever. However, that will not happen in our lifetime. Hopefully, as society becomes more integrated, the word will simply lose its appeal.

Hey, at least there is a clear positive development with this Kramer thing: It reaffirms the fact that society has a very negative, intolerant attitude towards any display of racial prejudice. Those who use the N-word appear to be ignorant and stupid. Also, inter-racial discussion of the word in a civilized manner is more likely to promote healing than further conflict.

Edit: "Masada suggested Richards donate at least $500,000 (euro381,270) to charity for every time he unleashed the derogatory term." Wow...that would add up to a lot of $$$. I would think someone with that much money wouldn't need to do bad stand-up commedy.